OPHITES 



123 



Table 20. — Measurements and scale counts of Ophites aulicus 

 (Limiasus) — ^Continued. 



rare, since several other collections made there contain no 

 specimen of this common snake. 



In Manila it is especially common in houses, where it feeds 

 on the small geckos, Peropus mutilatus, Cosymbotus platyurus, 

 and Hemidactylus frenatus. One gentleman assured me that 

 he had killed fourteen in his house during a single rainy season. 

 It is absolutely harmless, usually very gentle, and may be handled 

 with impunity. 



Known from Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Panay, Negros, Ban- 

 tayan, Masbate. It is uncommon in eastern Mindanao, as not a 

 specimen was found in my two years' collecting there. Fischer * 

 reports Lycodon aulicus var. from southern Mindanao. 



* Loc. cit. 



